FC Cincinnati supports new MLS Cup playoffs format
Count FC Cincinnati as satisfied with Major League Soccer's new postseason format.
MLS officials on Tuesday revealed the new playoff format, which has shifted from a seven-team, single-game elimination tournament in the Eastern and Western Conferences to a nine-team field for both conferences as well as a "wild card" game and a best-of-three series in the first round.
The expanded format is thought to create more value for the league's new, $2.5 billion Apple TV broadcasting rights deal, and more interest in general. Opponents of the new format have suggested the new format devalues the league's 34-match regular season, but the change has arrived nonetheless.
For its part in the matter, FC Cincinnati is keen on the new postseason format. The club's newfound on-field success, coupled with the promise of a guaranteed home playoff match for the top seven seeds in both conferences along with the wild card winner, has spurred FCC's support for the new format.
"After we made the playoffs last season and advanced to the conference semifinal, we knew we wanted to have the opportunity to host postseason matches at TQL Stadium in 2023," Jeff Berding, FC Cincinnati's co-chief executive officer, said. "We are pleased that the new format will provide, if we earn a postseason berth, the near-certain opportunity to bring a playoff atmosphere home to our fans this season."
FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan multiple times said he preferred to see MLS maintain the now-former playoff format, but acknowledged in Feb. 14 remarks the changes might be necessary due to the league's new TV deal.
What you need to know
This year, the MLS Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin with the two wild card matches Oct. 25 and 26, respectively.
Round One series will take place Oct. 28-Nov. 12. The single-game elimination conference semifinal and final rounds will be played between Nov. 25-Dec. 3.
Major League Soccer’s championship match, MLS Cup, is scheduled for Dec. 9.
In the new format, seeds one through seven automatically qualify for the first round, which is the best-of-three series. Both clubs in the first round are guaranteed at least one home playoff game.
Meanwhile, seeds Nos. 8 and 9 will play wild card matches to round out the field for the first round of the playoffs on both sides of the league.The wild-card winners advance to the first round, where matches cannot end in a tie.
After the first round, the playoffs go back to single-game elimination all the way through to MLS Cup.
How MLS arrived at the new format
MLS officials conducted a review of the playoff format beginning in 2021 with the purpose of delivering an enhanced playoff format that would provide fans with more games of consequence and better reward regular season results while maintaining the best elements from the single-elimination format according to a press release.
"Incorporating fan research and feedback, MLS engaged a third-party expert in the global sports industry to support the process with data and analysis," league officials said in the release.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: MLS Cup Playoffs: FC Cincinnati supports new format
